Axle



` FIG. 4.

A. A. MARTIN AXLE Fue.

FIG.

Filed April 8, 1949 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR AUGUST A. MARTIN BY v A MVM wmmw.

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m agli lle n.

FIG. 6.

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1953 stares RATE-nr or 4. claims.. l

This yini/tention hasn-to doggenerally with axles iorvehiclesrsnch asetrailerszand:thalike; andthe -nrentionaresides r.,particularlrin .the prcvisionnf zamnizellaxlaconstructionf.

Arprimaryobjectzoithe;inventionisto 4prinz-.ide

a relatively lightweight axlef: having greater strength; than. conventional axles of comparable size in use today.

Another object.oftlielinvention is to provide vanfaXlewhicli-V iseeasn te., fabricate and can: be

made from standard structuraly steel shapes. In this connectioma further. object istoprovide an axle construction'inwhifch alPth'e'iparts can be securedtogether by welding. Another.` Objectis. tomprovide:an axle: having a central' section. of rectangular; cross-sectional shape-whereby thev same. cani be `readilyinstalled oirmnunted" onavehicle.

A still Yfurther.object of vthee invention isv tu provide/an aX'Ieiwhich-hasgreat Mresistance to bending to torsionalstresses.

Another obieet. tof. providegan.. axle construction which provides a fluid storage chamber which may-beused to store airunderl pressure frgper- 'I-hese and other objects-will be'appa-rent' from the drawing and the following description thereof.

Referring to the drawing, Which is merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an axle embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the axle of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 drawn to the same scale as Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line B--B of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of one of the spindles.

More particularly describing the invention, reference numeral I I generally indicates a housing or central section of the axle. This section is composed of a pair of channel members I2 which are disposed facing each other and are secured by welds I3 forming an elongated box-like central section. The axle includes a pair of hollow spindles I4 which are mounted in the ends of the central section I I and project therefrom. The inner portions of the spindles, indicated by I5, are provided with vva pair of aligned longitudinal slots I6 which receive the ends of an elongated plate I8 which extends .longitudinally ofythefsecton; AIf It and centrallythereof. Bref erably; this? plate islparallel tol theba'ses of: the.. channels 12;... orzparallel;v tolthe longest sidesfof-.thecentral section which-isili. the cross-sectional form of an elongated rectangiejas appears in'. Figc..` 4".. The 'plateisgweldedsto' each of the; spindlesinvth'e.; region` `o^f thezxslots` as, indi-.- catedxat: 20', scf-that the; spindlesare securely' fas.- tened to: the-:plate:l 'Ihe'plateisal'sowelded along -itsiedgesto thechannels I2: bythefweldsvlaz.. In

this? connection preferablythe-Wdtn ofi the r plate is such thatthe plate` extends;v between the adiacent edges of'the'twozchannels'.:

The` spindles are also." secured;;to: the central section rI Iy by' means of: plug welds 42fI `whichl'are located along eachfsideof the spindles in a. plane which is substantially iat vright anglesttothe plane of" the. plate; I8.. In this.; connection. it.. may: be

noted that.` the-.1outer.diameter-Qi.thesspindlesjs substantially the same as the distance .between the; inner walls-.ct :thesection. I Ifinaasplane at right anglestogthe;plate` If.;

Mounted on; eachv spindle; .isa ar tubularrilanged memberv 23.. which- ;includes a; tubulansectionl havinga cylindrical bore.- 25.; Thi'srsection termnateszin: ariiange 2.5: which; abutsthefends; oizthe central'` section: II` and; thegharts; aree securedby welds 21. Welds 28 join the members 23 to the spindles.

It will be apparent that the axle may be readily fabricated from standard steel structural shapes. In manufacture, the ends of the spindles are slotted at I6 to receive the plate I8 which is then welded to the spindles. The tubular iianged members 23 are then mounted on the spindles preierably by either a forced or shrinkage fit. By the use of suitable jigs, the channels I2 may then be placed around the plate and inner ends of the spindles with the edges I2 of the channels I2 abutting the sides of the plate I8 marginal to the edges thereof. After the channels I2 and the spindlesand plate have been welded together, holes 30, 3l in the channels and spindles, respectively, may be bored, and these iilled by welding to form the plug welds 2 I.

It is a feature of this invention that the axle may be us-ed as a fluid storage member and as an air storage tank, the air being useful for operating the brakes of the vehicle. In order to accomplish this, the spindles I 4 are provided with plugs 34 which may be welded in place. With this construction, the interior of the axle is completely sealed. A threaded opening 35, shown closed by a plug 36, may be provided in the central section for admitting and withdrawing the fluid. If desired, a drain opening 31 may also be provided, and in the form of the invention shown I have indicated a tube 38 leading from this opening to the bottom of the axle. The opening 31 is normally closed by a plug 39. To provide drainage to both sides of plate i8, one or more small holes 40 are provided in the plate.

Although the invention has been particularly 4shown and described, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications can -be madeV without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. An axle comprising an elongated box-like central section, a spindle projecting into each end of said section, the projected ends of said spindles being slotted, an elongated plate mounted Vcentrally of said central section and having its ends received in the slotted ends of said spindles, said plate being secured to said central section and to said spindles by welds, and additional welds securing said spindles to said central section, said additional welds being in a plane at right angles to the plane of said plate.

said spindles, said plate being secured to said central section and to said spindles, a tubular flanged member on each spindle in abutment with the end of said central section and welded thereto and to the spindle, and a plug in each spindle, said axle forming an enclosed chamber for the storage of uid, said central section having an opening for the introduction and removal of fluid.

3,'A welded axle construction comprising an elongated central section formed of a pair of opposed channel members and an elongated plate therebetween, the edges of said channel members and of said plate being secured together by welds, 45

a hollow spindle in each end of said central section, said spindles being of a diameter such that j end of said central `section and projecting out- Wardly therefrom, the inner end of each spindle being slotted, an elongated plate having its ends received in the slotted ends of said spindles and being secured thereto and to said central section by welds, and a tubular flanged member on each spindle in abutment with the ends of said central section secured to said central section by welds, said tubular flanged member including an extended portion projecting axially outward of the flange thereof for a substantial distance, no portion of said extended portion having a diameter greater than the portion thereof immediately adjacent the ange.

AUGUST A. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 120,418 Cremin Oct. 31, 1871 925,537 Walbridge June 22, 1909 2,025,343 Oelkers Dec. 24, 1935 2,155,156 Townsend Apr. 18, 1939 2,170,522 Voorhees Aug. 22, 1939 2,370,641 Dewey Mar. 6, 1945 2,452,659 Huldt Nov. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country VDate 659,264 Germany Mar. 31, 1938 665,172 Germany Sept. 19, 1938 686,438 Germany Jan. 9, 1940 

